Wed Apr 30 13:53:21 2008

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Barker taken first in Canadian College Draft

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Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - The Hamilton Tiger Cats selected safety Dylan Barker out of the University of Saskatchewan with the first pick in the 2008 Canadian College Draft Wednesday.

The Moose Jaw native led the Huskies in tackles last year with 53 and was second in interceptions with three. He was a first team All-Canadian selection and a CanWest All-Star in 2006 and 2007.

Barker is the first defensive back taken with the number one overall pick since the 1993 draft when the British Columbia Lions selected Patrick Burke from Fresno College.

Edmonton traded out of the second spot and acquired offensive lineman John Comiskey, wide receiver Kevin Challenger, the 11th overall pick in the second round and a third-round pick from Calgary, in exchange for the second overall pick and a second-round selection.

The Stampeders then had the second and third picks in the draft and took a pair of offensive lineman, Weber State's Dmitri Tsoumpas and Jesse Newman of Louisiana-Lafayette.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders was up next and went to the defensive side of the ball, selecting Central Florida defensive tackle Keith Shologan. Shologan, who started every game for the Knights in the last two seasons, is also a four- time Canadian heavyweight wrestling champion.

B.C. went back to the offensive side of the ball and nabbed South Carolina offensive lineman Justin Sorensen at No. 5.

The offensive line trend continued with the sixth pick when Winnipeg selected Regina's Brendon LaBatte.

Montreal nabbed University of British Columbia linebacker Shea Emry with the seventh pick, and Hamilton closed out the opening round by taking the first skill position player, Sherbrooke receiver Samuel Giguere.